The First Whisper

THE BEGINNING OF TORMENTS

The bell rang for midday break when the school door burst open, four council guards entered Adele class. Adele looked up from her seat in confusion, what's going on

? she whispered to Mara who was busy arranging her books.

“Mara of the house of Knight” the guard in the front shouted, “By the order of the council, you are under arrest for crimes of forgery and treason.

The room froze, someone even gasped.

Mara slowly raised her head, her face went pale. What.. What are you talking about? her lips trembling.

Before she could say more two guards grabbed her by the arms, pulling her up from her seat. Her chair screeched against the floor.

Stop!! What are you people doing? Adele shouted, clutching Mara's wrist.

“Leave her alone!!”. She didn't do anything. “Stay out of it,” the lead guard said, orders from above. But Adele did not move, please she is not guilty of this crime, okay show me the proof that she committed treason? You guys can't take someone without evidence. The guard pushes her, sending her body to the wooden chair next to her, hitting her waist.

One of the guards unfolded a scroll and began to read, “ For spreading lies and forging council documents Mara Knight is to be taken to the square for public judgement.

Mara tried to speak but her voice failed her. As they were dragging her, Adele continued with tears “please… not her” she whispered. “ Not her”

The square was already packed with people, Mara was dragged in like a rag doll with her wrist bound and her uniform torn. The guards shoved her to the ground forcing her head down.

Lord Morin stood with the rest of the council.

“ Mara Knight, daughter of the condemned traitor, Mrs Kerren Knight, is guilty of spreading forbidden words and forging of documents.

“I didn't do it” she cried, but the guard by her side hit her with a sword.

Adele pushed through the crowd, shouting “she is innocent” stop with the lies, she cried out but she shoved backward.

Lord Morin continued, as your punishment for death by the sword.

GUARDS

The guard without delay drove the sword into Mara's stomach; she staggered backward then fell on the cold stone.

Everywhere became still until Adele's shout turned into a raw scream, she ran forward reaching Mara's body, tears pouring from her eyes like rain. I love you Adele, promise me you'll stay alive for me. Mara whispered before her hands fell limply to the ground.

“ By the council law” Lord Morin said, let this be a lesson.

Adele stepped forward, eyes burning with anger and frustration, “You call yourself protectors” her voice shaking but loud enough to stop the murmurs from the crowd. You liars, thieves, killers, you destroy homes, families and lives to save yourself and you call it justice.

Take her!!” Morin barked

Two guards rushed to her.

“ I swear”, she said, as they seize her “ I'll bring every single one of you down even if it cost my life”

Enough” a guard struck her across the face, dragging her backward as her feet scraped against the stones.

Every single one of you!! She screamed before the doors of the prison slammed shut behind her.

Mara… she whispered as tears rolled down her cheek, I promise you I'll make them pay for what they did to you, they will feel the pain they made me feel, I'll cut every single one of them into pieces. She muttered inside the prison.

“Now you know how it started,” Adele said, her lips curling into a cold smirk. “But you’ll never know how it ends.”

TORMENTS OF NYLESHK

The gate opened. “You may go you are free, lady,” a guard said.

Adele glared at them with eyes sharp enough to cut. She stepped out of the prison and walked straight toward Mara’s house, her footsteps echoing on the dusty road. The air was heavy and still, carrying the faint hum of a town pretending nothing had happened.

When she opened the door, the quiet hit her like a wave. For a moment, she could almost hear them again—her and Mara’s laughter bouncing off the walls, the sound of their teasing fights, their voices tangled in warmth and noise.

Tears welled in her eyes before she could stop them. She sank to the floor, hugging her knees to her chest. “Mara… why you?” she whispered, her voice breaking.

After a long moment, she wiped her face and stood. Mara’s room was exactly as she remembered: books piled on the desk, a scarf draped over the chair, sunlight cutting through the cracked window. In one corner sat an old wooden board. Adele carried it to the table, found scraps of paper, and began to write names, connections, fragments of memory.

She pinned each note to the board, drawing lines from one person to another, building a map of guilt and power until every thread led back to the same name: Lord Morin — the head of the council.

She stepped back, staring at the web she’d created. Her grief hardened into something colder. A slow smile tugged at her lips.

“It won’t be so bad to start the fire from the bottom,” she whispered.

The next day, Adele returned to school annoyed, hollow, and burning with hate.

She stood in the assembly line with the other girls, her eyes fixed on the ground. Around her, whispers spread like smoke.

“That’s her… the cursed girl.”

“Her father’s banned, her mother’s dead even her best friend too.”

“Who knows who’ll die next if they stay close to her?”

The words cut deep. Adele clenched her fists, holding back the tears that threatened to fall. Her chest ached, but she kept her head down, refusing to let them see her break.

After assembly, they marched to their classrooms. The teacher entered, her voice firm but was cautious. “This is your senior year,” she began, her gaze landing on Adele. “Adele, stand.”

Adele rose slowly.

“You missed a great deal last semester your exams, your activities. For the council’s sake and because you are… grieving you will be permitted to rewrite your exams today.” The teacher hesitated, then added, “And for questioning the council’s law, you are assigned to clean Mr. Cranfield’s office for the rest of the week.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Adele said quietly.

Later, after finishing her exams, she began her duty in Mr. Cranfield’s office. Dust floated in the thin light as she moved from shelf to shelf, wiping away months of neglect. When she was done, she shut the windows, drew the curtains, and closed the door behind her.

She continued her punishment until the end of the week.

The following Monday, Adele was summoned by one of the guards. “Lord Emmanuel wishes to see you,” he said.

Adele hesitated before following him through the stone hallway to a quiet room behind the assembly hall. Emmanuel stood by the window, his hands clasped behind his back.

“I heard,” he began, turning to face her, “that money from the treasurer’s office was cut by a quarter. Stolen, apparently.”

Adele frowned. “I didn’t take anything. And my punishment ended last week. Whatever happened has nothing to do with me.”

Emmanuel’s eyes narrowed. “Strange. The treasurer said nothing like this ever happened until you arrived.”

Adele let out a short, bitter breath. “Of course. Nothing ever goes wrong until a female gets involved. Then suddenly we’re the suspects.” She lowered her head slightly, trying to steady her voice.“What did you just say?” Emmanuel’s tone rose a little.

Adele met his eyes. “Have you questioned the guards? Or the treasurer himself? Or is it just easier to blame the girl who was there to clean?”

For a moment, Emmanuel said nothing.

“Lord Emmanuel,” she continued softly, “it isn’t right to accuse someone without proof. And by the way, if I were still assigned to that office, maybe your suspicion would make sense—but I’m not. So please,” she added, bowing her head slightly, “judge this matter carefully.”

Without waiting for a reply, she turned and walked out.